As far as any "Die Hard American" Redneck is concerned. Any vehicle that bears a mark that originates in an Asian Country (Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Hyundai, Kia) is a "Rice Burner." I just think they are jealous that those companies make better vehicles than any of the Big 3. I don't let it bother me...now in my opinion "Rice" is any car (even American cars) that have a lot of mods that have absolutely no benefit to the car (ie. Huge wing on a FWD car, windshield wiper sprayer lights, neon underbody kits, huge chrome rims). One of my favorites was a 4 door civic w/ an erector set wing on the back and a big sticker than said "DRIFT KING." And he looked at my AE86 Corolla like it was crap. That is Rice!!!

rice is the slow ass civic with a can for a muffler that makes it sound like a boewing 747 taking off. rice is noramlly associated with the smaller/compact cars. my favorites are the front wheel drive cars with the huge ass wings on the back. dont get me wrong, some of those cars are for show only and i respect that, not those cats at the track driving the cavaliers with the big wing on the back running 16s

A rice burner is any Japanese car. The IM generation may have decided in their self-absorbed little world that it means a particular type of Japanese car that they don't like, but that's just self-absorbed people in their own little world deciding that words mean whatever they want them to.
The term was coined when Japanese cars were the only Asian imports, and has logically been expanded to include Korean cars, too. Most people use the term derisively, though some embrace it proudly.
The repair history and resale value of Japanese cars make it obvious that using the term derisively is a sign of ignorance or jealousy.

MOSTLY the term is used by angry or jelous red necks or people that prefer or own american cars. Most people that own asian cars dont use the term that ,much or as much as people that own american mustle. If Owners of asian cars use the term its to describe a horrobly cuzstomized cars such as civics or
most 4 banggers that have huge wings of neons or auto shift knobs ( lol ).
American owners use the term to describe any non domestic asian car , even a supra ,rx7, or skyline , its mostly due to anger , jelousy or ignorance.

I would have to say a rice burner is any car made in Asia and is used derisively by rednecks and yahoos who think you need an American Muscle car to go fast. Recently I saw a '74 Pontiac Trans Am for sale near my home. It is beautiful, factory spoiler, big fat rear tires, manual tranny. Then I thought to myself, with gas prices like they are, why would I want a 6.6 liter V8 with who knows what size four barrel carb, probably double pumper. I would only be able to afford to drive it on Sundays. I love my MKIII Supra N/A. It's got plenty of spunk, ain't to bad on gas, and looks damn good to boot. I have gained a healthy respect for jap sport cars, they do a damn fine job with a lot less than an American Muscle car. My only complaint is the cramped engine compartment. Makes em damn hard to work on.

what about this for an example of a rice burnre, last friday i was on the races there was this punk with a 2003 celica, came down the strip bass that you can hear from blocks away, muffler so loud sounds like a 747 , with neon lights everywhere inside and out , bodykits like its and armor all over the car , all the fenders replaced with every aftermarket part that you can imagine , has a 7 hole ("NONFUNCTIONAL") hood , a hood scoop,huge oversized chromed out rimes decals everywhere, a neon light-spoiler, and an automatic and his car is so heavy its does 18 close to 19 in a 1/4 mile, and to make matters funier, he's the one that got caught while everybody was tryin to escape , everybody saw it, he was so scared to pull out the spot fearing that somebody is gonna hit his car

what about this for an example of a rice burnre, last friday i was on the races there was this punk with a 2003 celica, came down the strip bass that you can hear from blocks away, muffler so loud sounds like a 747 , with neon lights everywhere inside and out , bodykits like its and armor all over the car , all the fenders replaced with every aftermarket part that you can imagine , has a 7 hole ("NONFUNCTIONAL") hood , a hood scoop,huge oversized chromed out rimes decals everywhere, a neon light-spoiler, and an automatic and his car is so heavy its does 18 close to 19 in a 1/4 mile, and to make matters funier, he's the one that got caught while everybody was tryin to escape , everybody saw it, he was so scared to pull out the spot fearing that somebody is gonna hit his car